Belt-tightener for water-regulating devices.



No. 7|5,|05. mm Dec. 2,4902. A. c. MATHER.

BELT TIGHTEIER FOR WATER BEGULATING DEVICES.

(Application filed ha. 3, 1900.) (lo lodel.) 2 Shasta-Shoot II rm; NORRIS PETERS c0, Pumauma, WASMNGTDN. 'u c.

No. 71s,|o5. Pat'nied Doc. 2,- I902.

A. c. mum-1n.

BELT TIGHTENER FOR WATER REGULATING DEVICES.

(Io IodolJ' 2 Shecis-8hoat 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO C. MATI-IER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BELT-TIGHTENER FOR WATER-REGULATING DEVICES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 71 5,105, dated December 2, 1902.

Application filed January 3, 1900. Serial No. 283. (No model.)

ing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved belttightener for a water-regulating device; and the principal object of the same is to provide a tightener of this characterparticularly designed for use in connection with a device by means of which the level of a body of water may be controlled and power obtained from the fall thereof.

The invention consists of certain features and details of construction, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification I have illustrated my invention in connection with a device for regulating the level of a body of water and for obtaining power from the fall thereof.

In said drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of one span of a bridge in which my improvements are embodied. Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The bridge 1, extending across the stream,

is supported upon piers 2, preferably arranged at regular intervals and constituting a portion of the dam. Between the piers 2 is the weir 3, by means of which the bedof the stream is leveled up between the piers, as clearly shown. Said weir is constructed of rock and cement, concrete, or other material suitable for the purpose and, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, slopes downwardly both up and down stream, -but,as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is at the same level across the stream. Above the weir 3 is a rotary wheel 4, constituting a portion of the dam and the means by which the power of the water may be transformed and utilized. Said wheel is provided with substantially radial curved buckets or blades 5 and is mounted upon a central shaft or axis 6. The ends of the shaft 6 project into openings 7 in the piers 2 and are supported upon the pistons or plungers 8 of the hydraulic cylinders 9 in the lower ends of said piers. I have shown in the drawings two hydraulic cylinders 9, constituting the support for each end of a shaft 6. I do not, however, limit myself to this particular number as one only may be necessary, or a greater number may be desirable. When only one is necessary, however, to support the wheel 4, I propose to use two or more in order that one may be repaired while the other is in use without necessitating the shutting down of the apparatus. The plungers 8 fit snugly in the cylinders 9, so that the whole weight of the wheel 4 is supported upon the water which is inclosed in the lower end of each of said cylinders. When it is desired, however, to lift the wheel 4 out of the water, it may be done by forcing water or other liquid from any suitable source of power into the lower ends of the cylinders 9 through the openings 10. Power is transmitted from the wheel 4 to a driving-shaft 11 by means of a series of belts or cables 12 passing around the wheel 4 and a drum or roller on said shaft. In order that the tension of the belts or cables 12 may be maintained the same under all conditions and in all positions of the wheel 4, I provide a take-up or slack-tightener consisting of a weight 13, attached to the lower end of a cord 14, passing around a pulley 15 and connected at its opposite end to a loose or freely-suspended pulley 16. The belt 12 passes around the pulley 16, being guided thereto by the idle pulleys 1718. By this arrangement it will be seen that in whatever position the power-wheel 4 may be the tensionof the belt or cable 12 remains the same.

In case the presence of a large quantity of ice should threaten the water-regulating device or in the event of high water-levels,which this construction is subject to, Iam enabled to lift the power-wheels 4, which constitute parts of the regulating apparatus, entirely out of the water, if necessary, so as to permit any unusual quantity of ice or water to pass, and in this event my improved belt-tighteuer will take up the resulting slackness in the flexible connection between the powerwheels and the operating-shaft, so as to re tain the difierent parts of the structure in cooperative relation with each other and so that it will not be necessary to remove the belt or are raised or to readjust it when the powerwheels are again lowered into the water.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a suitable driving means, a suitable driven means and a flexible connection between said driving means and driven means, of a pair of idle pulleys located between said driving means and driven means, over which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a freely-suspended pulley around which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, and a weight attached to said freely-suspended pulley.

2. The combination with a suitable rotary driving means, a suit-able rotary driven means, said driven means being located above said driving means, and a flexible connection between said driving means and driven means,

of a pair of idle pulleys located between said driving means and said driven means over which said flexible connection is adapted to ley said flexible connection between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight is adapted to pass.

3. The combination with a suitable rotary" driving means, a suitable rotary driveni means located vertically above said driving means, and a flexible connection between said driving means and driven means, ofa pair of idle pulleys located vertically between said, driving means and said driven means over;

which said flexible connection is adapted to,

pass, a freely-suspended pulley located in proximity to said idle pulleys and in a horizontal plane with respect to said idle pulleys around which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a weight attached to said freely-suspended pulley by a flexible conn-ec tion, and a guide-pulley located between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight in a horizontal plane with respect to said freelysuspended pulley, said guidepulley being adapted to guide the flexible connection between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight.

4. The combination with a suitable rotary driving means, a suitable rotary driven means located vertically above said driving means, and a flexible connection between said driving means and said driven means, of a pair of idle pulleys located vertically between said driving means and said driven means over which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a triangular support for said idle pulleys, a freely-suspended pulley located in proximity to said idle pulleys and in a horizontal plane with respect to said idle pulleys around which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a weight attached to said freely-suspended pulley by a flexible connection, and a guide-pulley located between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight, in a horizontal plane with respect to said freelysuspended pulley, said guide-pulley being adapted to guide the flexible connection between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight.

5. The combination with a suitable rotary driving means, a suitable rotary driven means located vertically above said driving means, said driving means being bodily movable with respect to said driven means, and a flexible connection between said driving means and said driven means, of a pair of idle pulleys located vertically between said driving means and said driven means over which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a triangular support for said idle pul: leys, a freely-suspended pulley located in proximity to said idle pulleys and in a horizontal plane with respect to said idle pulleys around which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a weight attached to said freely-suspended pulley by a flexible connection, and a guide-pulley located between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight, in a horizontal plane with respect to said freelysuspended' pulley, said guide-pulley being adapted to guide the flexible connection between said freely-suspended pulley and said Weight.

6. The combination with a suitable support,

rotary driving means mounted on said sup- 1 port, rotary driven means mounted on said support vertically above said driving means, and a flexible connection between said driving means and said driven means, of a pair of idle pulleys located vertically between said fdriving means and said driven means over i which said flexible connection is adapted to fpass, a triangular support for said idle pul ;leys, a freely-suspended pulley located in proximity to said idle pulleys and in a hori- 1 zontal plane with respect to said idle pulleys around which said flexible connection is adapted to pass, a weight attached to said freely-suspended pulley by a flexible connection, and a guide-pulley located between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight, in a horizontal plane with respect to said freelysuspended pulley, said guide-pulley being adapted to guide the flexible connection between said freely-suspended pulley and said weight.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO c. MATHER. Witnesses:

ALEXANDER HALLERSTEIN, JOHN SHARRICKE. 

